Bucket control for loader or the like



April 21, 1959 J. s. PILCH BUCKET CONTROL FOR LOADER OR THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1,

Filed Feb. 23. 1956 v INVENTOR. JOHN S. 'PILCH ArraFA/mf April 21, 1959 J. s. PILCH 2,883,077

BUCKET CONTROL FOR LOADER ,OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 23, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. v JOHN S.'P!LCH ATTOP/VEX April 21, 1959 J. 5. PlLCH 8 77 BUCKET CONTROL FOR LOADER OR THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 23, 1956 INVENTOR. JOH N S Pl LC H ATTOPNEK United States Patent BUCKET CONTROL FOR LOADER OR THE LIKE John S. Pilch, Ware, Mass. Application February 23, 1956, Serial No. 567,116 Claims. (Cl. 214-440) This invention relates to new and improved bucket controlling mechanism for tractor mounted loaders and the like.

In the past, considerable effort has been expended in providing automatic bucket-controlling mechanism and particularly, bucket leveling apparatus for tractor and truck-mounted loaders and the like, truck and tractor loaders, trenchers and various equipment. Devices now employed for this purpose require considerable amounts of steel and are, therefore, heavy and expensive. One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved equipmen -controlling mechanism and/ or leveling device which reduces greatly the amount of steel required and which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction, yet eflicient in operation. Present loaders that have leveling devices have fixed leveling devices that pivot the bucket or equipment forward beginning when the lift arms are at ground level, at a fixed amount of movement which moves bucket and load away from center of tractor gravity and requires a tremendous amount of ballast in the rear of the tractor to keep the tractor properly balanced when traveling with a loaded bucket. Therefore, on the present loaders, the amount that buckets are urged forward is held to a minimum so as not to aggravate the balance too badly.

With my invention, as the arms are being raised up from ground position to carrying position, the bucket can be held close to tractor and the bucket need not be pivoted forward. This assures better tractor balance when carrying loads. Also, the operator can adjust this mechanism to begin pivoting the bucket forward at any given height of loader arms to suit his needs, and also can easily adjust the mechanism to pivot the bucket for ward during the travel of the arms from that point upward in a desired amount to suit his needs. I have found that his also desirable to vary the amount said bucket is pivoted forward depending on the type of material to be handled, also depending upon the distance material is to be carried. If such material is loose, such as cement or water, mechanism would be set so bucket would maintain a more or less level position and eliminate spillage. Now, if material is handled that does not spill so readily, mechanism would then be adjusted to pivot bucket forward a much greater distance so that bucket might be partially dumped when tractor arrives at dumping position, thus cutting down dump time.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved arrangement for tractor mounted loaders and the like whereby the bucket is automatically pivoted to desired angular position upon raising of the bucket by the loader arms.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved bucket level gage for use with apparatus of the type set forth.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved bucket controlling mechanism for tractor mounted loaders or the like whereby the angular position "2 ,883,071 Patented Apr. 21, 1959 of the 'bucket may be automatically controlled at all times during the lifting thereof to dumping position.

Another object is to provide a new and improved apparatus whereby the bucket and material in said bucket can be held close to the tractor and at any set position of loader arms, this said mechanism to automatically pivot the bucket forward as the arms are raised.

Another object is to provide a new and improved apparatus whereby the mechanism can be readily adjusted to pivot the bucket forward the desired amount to suit the operators needs upon movement of the loader arms.

Another object is a new and improved apparatus whereby the operator can readily adjust this mechanism to begin automatically adjusting the bucket relative to the arms at any desired height of the loader arms.

Another object is a new and improved mechanism which allows the bucket dump cylinder to be attached directly to the loader arms and still automatically maintain the desired bucket position during the upward travel of the loader arms.

Another object is a new and improved mechanism to automatically supply oil to cylinder, in the desired amount, in order to provide the desired ratio of travel in relation to arms or any other structure to automatically position the bucket or any other apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims as the preferred form has been given by way of illustration only.

Referring to the dnawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a tractor mounted loader ernbodying one form of the invention and showing the bucket in bucket loading position;

Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the apparatus generally similar to Fig. l but showing the bucket in a raised position;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the apparatus generally similar to Figs. 1 and 3 but showing the bucket in dumping position;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing a modified form of the invention;

Figs. 7 and 8 are views similar. to Fig. 6 but showing further modified forms of the invention; and

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic system of the loaderembodying the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein similar reference characters designate cor-"responding parts throughout the several views, the tractor mounted loader shown embodying the invention comprises the loader arms 10 pivotally connected to supports 11 secured to the tractor frame on opposite sides of the tractor and the bucket 12 is pivotally connected to loader arms Ill adjacent their free ends.

The loader arms 10 are adapted to be raised and lowered by the double acting cylinders 13 and rams 13A.

The bucket 12 is adapted to be rotated relative to loader or push arms 16 by means of double acting hydraulic cylinders 14 and rams 14A which cylinders are pivotally connected to lugs MA on the loader arms 10' or on the supports 11 above the pivotal connection of arms 10. Rams 14A maybe connected to bucket 12' directly or through link 16, and link 17 is pivotally connected adjacent its opposite ends to arms 10 and link 16 or the ram 14A for the bucket rotating cylinder as shown.

The hydraulic system comprises a fluid tank 21 and a hydraulic pump 22 connected thereto by hydraulic line 22A and pump 22 is connected by hydraulic line 22B to control valve 18 which is connected by hydraulic lines 19 and 20 and lines 20A and 19A to the opposite ends of bucket rotating cylinders 14.

The angular position of bucket 12 is automatically controlled during the lifting of the bucket from loading position as shown in Fig. l to dumping position shown in Fig. 4 by the bucket control mechanism which includes link 23 which may be pivotally connected adjacent one end to any of the pivot connections 17A on link 17 or to the bucket 12 or the ram 14A and adjacent its opposite end to any of the pivot connections 24A on link 24 which is pivotally connected intermediate its ends to support 11 and adjacent its opposite end said link 24 is provided with a pointer 25 adapted to indicate on scale or graduations 26 the angular position of the bucket whereby the angular position of the bucket may be readily ascertained by the operator at any time regardless of the position of the bucket.

During the movement of loader arms 10, the angular position of the bucket may be adjusted through automatic actuation of cylinder 14 and ram 14A by means of actuator 27 which is shown as a hydraulic control valve but which could be an electric or magnetic control for the hydraulic control valve if desired.

The actuator 27 comprises the valve body 28 having a bore 29 in which is mounted valve member 30 having the actuating portion 30A adapted to be engaged by link 24 to move the valve member to operative position against the force of valve spring 30B which normally tends to retain valve member 30 in inoperative position.

Valve body 28 is interposed in lines 19 and 20 which are the lines for control of bucket rotating cylinders 14, and in line 20 is provided one way check valve 31 for preventing return of fluid. Valve member 30 is provided with the land portions 30C and 30D separated by the reduced portions 30E and 30F. The valve member 30 is provided with the stop member or shoulder 32 which is of larger diameter than bore 29 and which is adapted to engage spring 30B and to limit the movement of the valve member by the spring 30B.

The lines 19a and 20a are connected at one end directly to control valve 18 and at their opposite end to the lines 19 and 20.

In Fig. 1 the bucket is shown in full lines in loading position. The bucket is then rotated through cylinder 14, ram 14A and link 16 as shown in broken lines to full bucket position and ready for lifting.

The arms and bucket 12 are then raised by cylinders 13 and rams 13a to the position shown in Fig. 3 and then to loading position shown in full lines in Fig. 4 in which the bucket is shown dumped in broken lines.

During the lifting of the bucket 12 by the arms 10, unless the bucket is pivoted or rotated relative to arms 10, to a level position, material will fall from the bucket.

As the push arms 10 are raised to raise the bucket 12, the link 23 pivots link 24 about its pivot and when the arms and bucket have been raised a desired amount, link 24 engages valve member 30 and actuates said valve member against the force of spring 30B. When reduced portion 30F is aligned with line 20, fluid passes from a pressurized line through line to the rear side of cylinder 14 to urge the ram 14A and bucket forwardly until the valve member 30 is released from contact with actuating member 24.

While line 20 is connected to a pressure line, line 19 which is connected to the forward side of cylinder 14 is in communication across reduced portion 30E with a line connected to the tank to allow the escape of fluid from the forward end of cylinder 14 back to the tank as the pressure fluid is forced into the rear end of said cylinder 14.

With the present invention, during the raising of the arms and bucket the link 24 will be pivoted by link 23 toward a position whereby it will actuate actuating valve 27, to thereby actuate ram 14A and cylinder 14 to vary the position of the bucket according to the position of the arms 10.

Pressure could be applied on either side of the ram 14A to rotate bucket 12 in either direction.

The device is so constructed and can be arranged whereby the =bucket can be positioned manually to full loadcarrying position and then may maintain such position for a predetermined period or distance, and then, if desired, the bucket could be automatically or manually moved to a dumping position relative to arms 10 so that when arms 10 are raised to a certain height, the bucket would be at desired angular position in relation to loader arms. The bucket controlling or leveling mechanism need have no function on the downward travel of the arms and bucket and in such event, the hydraulic circuit operates in the normal manner. I

By providing pressure on back of cylinder 14 prior to the application of pressure to the front of this cylinder, sloppiness or looseness or play in this cylinder is eliminated. In addition to the foregoing features, a safety feature is provided as follows:

When the bucket is in position as shown in Fig. 3, and the bucket cylinder rod in bucket cylinder 14 is pulled all the way back which is accomplished by supplying oil from the pump through the standard loader valve, the linkage 23 then can actuate valve 30 and the oil then can pass through valve 30, through line 19, and return to the tank, which releases the load to the pump and eliminates pump failure.

As will be seen from Fig. 9, the hydraulic system comprises a hydraulic pump 22 which is connected to tank 21 by a suitable hydraulic line 22A and pump 22 is also connected to control valve 18 by a hydraulic pressure line 22B whereby fluid under pressure is supplied from the pump 22 to valve 18 through pressure line 223 and fluid from the tank 21 is supplied to pump 22 through line 22A.

Control valve 18 is connected by lines 19 and 19A to the forward end of cylinders 14 and by the lines 20 and 20A to the rear end of cylinders 14.

Control valve 18 is connected through lines 40 and 40A to the rear end of cylinders 13 and by lines 41 and 41A to the front of cylinders 13.

Automatic control valve 27 is interposed in line 19 between the forward end of cylinders 14 and tank 21 and said valve 27 is also connected to line 20 from the rear end of cylinders 14 and to line 40 which through said line 40 and branch 40A are connected to the rear of cylinders 13.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 6 is generally similar to that shown in Fig. 1 except that linkage 15 is pivotally connected to pivoted lever 15A which is pivoted intermediate its ends on arm 10 and is connected adjacent its opposite end to reverse link 15B which in turn is pivotally connected to link 24 which in this case is reversed as is actuator valve 27.

In the form of Fig. 7, the link 15 is connected to the bell crank member which has the arm 15D for engagement with actuating member 30A of actuator valve 27 which in this case is positioned upright.

The form of Fig. 8 utilizes the gauge of Fig. l with the added provision that the valve 27 is upright as in the form of Fig. 7 and the member 1513 is connected to link 24 for actuating the valve. In this case, member 15E is provided with cam surface 15F adapted to engage actuating member 30A of valve 27 and the pin connecting member 15B and link 24 rides in a slot in link 24.

It is also pointed out that by removing actuator valve 27 the loader can be operated in the normal conventional manner.

Also, with the present invention, desired predetermined action of the bucket can be obtained by providing desired I linkage and arrangement of the valve.

I claim:

1. In a tractor mounted apparatus, a support, arm means pivotally connected to said support, a bucket carried by said arm means and pivotally connected thereto, first hydraulic means connected to said arm means for raising said arm means, second hydraulic means connected to said bucket for effecting rotation of said bucket relative to said arm means, and hydraulic control valve means operatively connected to said second hydraulic means and actuated upon raising of said arm means for automatically effecting movement of said bucket upon movement of said arm means to a predetermined extent, which predetermined extent may be at any point after initial movement of the bucket and arm means from loading position said actuator means comprising a hydraulic control valve interposed in the lines of the hydraulic system and means for actuating said control valve upon the raising of said arm means, said hydraulic control valve being interposed in the hydraulic line from the front of the bucket pivoting cylinders to the tank and adapted to connect the hydraulic lines from the rear of the cylinders for raising the arms and the rear of the cylinders for pivoting the bucket.

2. In a tractor mounted apparatus, a support, arm means pivotally connected to said support, a bucket carried by said arm means and pivotally connected thereto, first hydraulic means connected to said arm means for raising said arm means, second hydraulic means connected to said bucket for efiecting rotation of said bucket relative to said arm means, and means operatively connected to said bucket and said second hydraulic means for automatically etfecting movement of said bucket upon movement of said arm means to a predetermined extent, which predetermined extent may be at any point after initial movement of the bucket and arm means from loading position said actuator means comprising a hydraulic control valve interposed in the lines of the hydraulic system and means for actuating said control valve upon the raising of said arm means, said hydraulic control valve being interposed in the hydraulic line from the front of the bucket pivoting cylinders to the tank and adapted to connect the hydraulic lines from the rear of the cylinders for raising the arms and the rear of the cylinders for pivoting the bucket.

3. In a tractor mounted apparatus, a support, arm means pivotally connected to said support, a bucket carried by said arm means and pivotally connected thereto, first hydraulic means operatively connected to said arm means for raising said arm means, second hydraulic means for pivoting said bucket relative to said arm means, linkage means intermediate said second hydraulic means and said bucket, hydraulic control valve means operatively connected to said second hydraulic means for efiecting operation thereof and means operatively connected to said linkage means and to said hydraulic control valve means for automatically effecting actuation of said actuator valve means and thereby eifecting operation of said second bydraulic means upon movement of said arm means to any point after initial movement of the bucket and arms from loading position, said hydraulic control valve being interposed in thehydraulic line from the front of the bucket pivoting cylinders to the tank and adapted to connect the hydraulic lines from the rear of the cylinders for raising the arms and the rear of the cylinders for pivoting the bucket.

4. In a tractor mounted apparatus, a support, arm means pivotally connected to said support, a bucket carried by said arm means and pivotally connected thereto, first hydraulic means operatively connected to said arm means for raising said arm means, second hydraulic means for pivoting said bucket relative to said arm means, linkage means intermediate said second hydraulic means and said bucket, hydraulic control valve means operatively connected to said second hydraulic means for effecting operation thereof and control means operatively connected to said linkage means and to said hydraulic control valve means for automatically effecting actuation of said actuator valve means and thereby effecting operation of said second hydraulic means upon movement of said arm means, said control means comprising link means operatively connected to said bucket and movable upon movement of said bucket and actuator means operatively connected to said link means and actuated thereby for automatically efiecting operation of said second hydraulic means to any point after initial movement of the bucket and arms from loading position, said hydraulic control valve being interposed in the hydraulic line from the front of the bucket pivoting cylinders to the tank and adapted to connect the hydraulic lines from the rear of the cylinders for raising the arms and the rear of the cylinders for pivoting the bucket,

5. In a tractor mounted apparatus, a support, arm means pivotally connected to said support, a bucket carried by said arm means and pivotally connected thereto, first hydraulic means operatively connected to said arm means for raising said arm means, second hydraulic means for pivoting said bucket relative to said arm means, linkage means intermediate said second hydraulic means and said bucket, hydraulic control valve means operatively connected to said second hydraulic means for efiecting operation thereof and control means operatively connected to said linkage means and to said hydraulic control valve means for effecting actuation of said actuator valve means and thereby eifecting operation of said second hydraulic means upon movement of said arm means, said control means comprising link means operatively connected to said bucket and movable upon movement of said bucket and actuator valve means operatively connected to said link means and actuated thereby for effecting operation of said second hydraulic means to any point after initial movement of the bucket and arms from loading position, said hydraulic control valve being interposed in the hydraulic line from the front of the bucket pivoting cylinders to the tank and adapted to connect the hydraulic lines from the rear of the cylinders for raising the arms and the rear of the cylinders for pivoting the bucket.

6. In a tractor mounted apparatus, a support, arm means pivotally connected to said support, a bucket carried by said arm means and pivotally connected thereto, first hydraulic means operatively connected to said arm means for raising said arm means, second hydraulic means for pivoting said bucket relative to said arm means, linkage means intermediate said second hydraulic means and said bucket, hydraulic control valve means operatively connected to said second hydraulic means for effecting operation thereof and means operatively connected to said linkage means and to said hydraulic control valve means for effecting actuation of said actuator valve means and thereby effecting operation of said second hydraulic means upon movement of said arm means to any point after initial movement of the bucket and arms from loading position, said hydraulic control valve being interposed in the hydraulic line from the front of the bucket pivoting cylinders to the tank and adapted to connect the hydraulic lines from the rear of the cylinders for raising the arms and the rear of the cylinders for pivoting the bucket.

7. In a tractor mounted apparatus, a support, arm means pivotally connected to said support, a bucket carried by said arm means and pivotally connected thereto first hydraulic means operatively connected to said arm means for raising said arm means, second hydraulic means for pivoting said bucket relative to said arm means, linkage means intermediate said second hydraulic means and said bucket, said linkage means including a link connected to said arm means, hydraulic control valve means operatively connected to said second hydraulic means for efiecting operation thereof and means operatively connected to said linkage means and to said hydraulic control valve means for effecting actuation of said actuator valve means and thereby effecting operation of said second hydraulic means upon movement of said arm means to any point after initial movement of thefbucket and arms from fl leading position, said hydraulic control valve being interposed in the hydraulic line from the front of the bucket pivoting cylinders to the tank and adapted to connect the hydraulic lines from the rear of the cylinders for raising the arms and the rear of the cylinders for pivoting the bucket.

8. In a tractor mounted apparatus, a support, arm means pivotally connected to said support, a bucket carried by said arm means and pivotally connectedthereto, first hydraulic means operatively connected to said arm means for raising said arm means, second hydraulic means for pivoting said bucket relative to said arm means, linkage means intermediate said second hydraulic means and said bucket, said linkage means including a link connected to said arm means, hydraulic control valve means operatively connected to said second hydraulic means for effecting operation thereof and control means operatively connected to said linkage means and to said hydraulic control valve means for effecting actuation of said actuator valve means and thereby efiecting operation of said second hydraulic means upon movement of said arm means, said control means comprising link means operatively connected to said bucket and movable upon movement of said bucket and actuator means operatively connected to said link means and actuated thereby for elfecting operation of said second hydraulic means to any point after initial movement of the bucket and arms from loading position, said hydraulic control valve being interposed in the hydraulic line from the front of the bucket pivoting cylinders to the tank and adapted to connect the hydraulic lines from the rear of the cylinders for raising the arms and the rear of the cylinders for pivoting the bucket.

9. In a tractor mounted apparatus, a support, arm means pivotally connected to said support, a bucket carried by said arm means and pivotally connected thereto, first hydraulic means operatively connected to said arm means for raising said arm means, second hydraulic means for pivoting said bucket relative to said arm means, linkage means intermediate said second hydraulic means and said bucket, said linkage means including a link connected to said arm means, actuator means operatively connected to said second hydraulic means for eifecting operation thereof and control means operatively connected to said linkage means and to said actuator means for efiecting actuation of said actuator valve means and thereby effecting operation of said second hydraulic means upon movement of said arm means, said control means comprising link means operatively connected to said bucket and movable upon movement of said bucket and hydraulic control valve means operatively connected to said link means and actuated thereby for efiecting operation of said second hydraulic means to any point after initial movement of the bucket and arms from loading position, said hydraulic control valve being interposed in the hydraulic line from the front of the bucket pivoting cylinders to the tank and adapted to connect the hydraulic lines from the rear of the cylinders for raising the arms and the rear ofthe cylinders for pivoting the bucket.

10. In a device of the character described, arm means, a bucket pivotally connected to said arm means, hydraulic means for pivoting said bucket relative to said arm means, said hydraulic means being connected to said arm means, a hydraulic control valve and means actuated upon raising of said arm means for automatically actuating said control valve for maintaining desired angular relationship between said bucket and arm means during the raising of the bucket by said arm means to any point after initial movement of the bucket and arms from loading position, said hydraulic control valve being interposed in the hydraulic line from the front of the bucket pivoting cylinders to the tank andadapted to connect the hydraulic lines from the rear of the cylinders for raising the arms and the rear of the cylinders for pivoting the bucket.

1 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS France Feb. 3, 1954 

